Just before the 2010 legislative session began, former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson was standing on the corner of Old Santa Fe Trail and Paseo de Peralta in the snow, wearing a parka that looked thick enough for Everest. (Oh, wait...)
Johnson and Republican gubernatorial hopeful
were there to protest new taxes when SFR (clad in no such parka) caught up with them.
Guess who else we found?
, the Republican running for New Mexico's 3rd Congressional district.
"The answer to irresponsible spending is not to take more money from the people but to really, fundamentally look at the role of government and demand responsibility," Kokesh tells SFR. "I'm happy to support anyone standing up against the tax increase." While he says he's focused more on national than state politics, Kokesh seemed dismayed at the staff increases under Richardson: "Just getting [the number of appointees] where it was would be a huge step in the right direction," he says.
SFR also interviewed Rick Morlen, president of the board of the
, who said the Tea Party was at the Roundhouse "to help direct" legislators.
"We want to continue to fight for fiscal responsibility, limited government and limited taxing," Morlen tells SFR.
In this legislative session, Morlen says, the ATP's priority will be to support the
prefiled by Sen. William Sharer, R-Farmington, that would allow New Mexicans to opt out of having health insurance.
Despite such protests, Gov. Richardson's
and House Speaker Ben Luján's opening remarks both referred to "revenue enhancements" (tax hikes) in no uncertain terms of necessity. We'll have the next 30 days to see how this all plays out.
Santa Fe Reporter